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What is a Physician Assistant (PA)?
Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice
medicine with physician supervision. As part
of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs
conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat
illnesses, order and interpret tests,
counsel on preventive health care, assist in
surgery, and in virtually all states can
write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA
relationship, physician assistants exercise
autonomy in medical decision making and
provide a broad range of diagnostic and
therapeutic services. A PA's practice may
also include education, research, and
administrative services. Graduation from an
accredited physician assistant program and
passage of the national certifying exam are
required for state licensure. |
